You saw the research. Drinking coffee is good for you, so pour another and immerse yourself in the rich, roasted aroma. That’s what a 2017 study told us, reporting that four or more cups of joe daily could reduce your risk of death by around 64 percent when compared to those who never or almost never drank coffee.1 The catch (there’s always a catch!) was that we didn’t know what “or more” meant. Now we do.
A new study from the University of South Australia, which included 347,077 adult coffee drinkers between ages 37 and 73, says five cups of coffee daily are cool.2 With that sixth cup, however, health problems begin to brew – and might pour coffee’s benefits down the drain. To be more specific, the study found that the sixth cup of coffee increases risk of heart disease by up to 22 percent.
By investigating the association of long-term coffee consumption and cardiovascular disease, the study researchers say their report confirms the point where over-the-top caffeine can cause high blood pressure – a precursor to heart disease.
For the record, this is the first time any study has set an upper limit on safe coffee consumption and cardiovascular health.
Sources
1. BMJ. (2017, November 22). Three to four cups of coffee a day linked to longer life: Three or 4 cups a day confers greatest benefit, except in pregnancy and for women at risk of fracture. ScienceDaily.
2. Ang Zhou, Elina Hyppönen, Long-term coffee consumption, caffeine metabolism genetics, and risk of cardiovascular disease: a prospective analysis of up to 347,077 individuals and 8368 cases, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 109, Issue 3, March 2019, Pages 509–516.
